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Actual Budget

actualbudget.org

Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.7 #18 of 181 in Personal Finance Software

What it is

Actual Budget is a privacy-focused finance app built around envelope budgeting. It lets users assign only cash they have on hand, manage split transactions and transfers, and track bills and net worth. The app stores data on the local device and a selected Actual server, and it works without a network connection. Reports include net worth and cash flow, alongside a custom report engine, and users can export reports. Actual imports QIF, OFX, QFX, CAMT.053 and CSV files. Bank syncing requires actual-server and credentials from a chosen provider, and automatic syncing is off by default. Optional end-to-end encryption prevents the server from accessing encrypted budget data, but it does not cover bank sync tokens; losing the encryption password without a local copy means the encrypted data cannot be recovered. Desktop clients are available for Windows, macOS and Linux, with web access and several self-hosting options. The free, MIT-licensed plan costs nothing.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Actual Budget is a privacy-focused finance app built around envelope budgeting.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Free plan
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · actualbudget.org
Support
The documentation directs users to the maintainers and community for help and support.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Account sync
bothRead 19 Sep 2026 · actualbudget.org
Bank integrations
Documented bank sync providers include Akahu, Enable Banking, GoCardless, SimpleFIN Bridge and Pluggy.ai.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Bank sync requirements
Bank integration requires actual-server and credentials from the chosen provider; automatic transaction syncing is off by default.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Bill tracking
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · actualbudget.org
Budgeting
Envelope budgeting lets users assign only cash they have on hand.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Budgeting tools
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · actualbudget.org
Desktop platforms
Download pages list desktop clients for Windows, macOS and Linux.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Encryption
Optional end-to-end encryption prevents the server from accessing encrypted budget data, but does not cover bank sync tokens.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Encryption limitation
If the encryption password is forgotten and no local data copy remains, the encrypted data cannot be recovered.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Imports
Actual supports importing QIF, OFX, QFX, CAMT.053 and CSV files.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Local-first
The app stores data on the local device and selected Actual server, and works without a network connection.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Net-worth tracking
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · actualbudget.org
Report export
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · actualbudget.org
Reports
The app includes net worth and cash flow reports, plus a custom report engine.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Server hosting
The sync server can be installed through PikaPods, Fly.io, Server CLI, Docker or from source.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org
Transactions
Users can manage split transactions and transfers in the transaction editor.Read 12 Oct 2026 · actualbudget.org

Plans and prices

Free and open source Free Envelope budgeting · Desktop and web access · Optional self-hosted synchronization · Open-source MIT-licensed software Read 19 Sep 2026 · app.actualbudget.org

Every Actual Budget plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Works without a network connection
  • Imports five listed file formats
  • Includes net-worth and cash-flow reports
  • Free plan costs nothing

Limits

  • Bank sync requires actual-server and provider credentials
  • Automatic transaction syncing is off by default
  • Encryption password loss can make data unrecoverable
  • Encryption does not cover bank sync tokens

Who it suits

Actual Budget suits people who want envelope budgeting, transaction and bill tracking, and reports across desktop and web. Its local-first storage and optional self-hosted synchronization may suit users who want control over where their budget data is kept.

Verdict

Actual Budget combines envelope budgeting and financial reports with local-first storage and desktop and web access. Consider the bank-sync requirements and encryption recovery limitation before relying on those options.

Where Specifiction places it

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